Their course, their course

When Emeka Monyei was filling his Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) form in 2009, he opted to study Law at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). By the time the admission list was released, he was offered Foreign Languages.

Seemingly disappointed with what he called “a strange discipline”, he struggled to effect a change of course. Unluckily, all his efforts were abortive. “When it became obvious that there was nothing I could do to salvage the situation, I allowed fate to take its course,” he told CAMPUSLIFE.

But the story is different today. Burning with passion for translation and interpretation, Emeka is poised to make a statement with his knowledge of French. Like Emeka, many students of the department are of the opinion that a sound knowledge of French is an added advantage in the ever competitive labour market of today.

As French becomes the second official language of the world, opportunities are opening up in commerce, translation, e-learning, tourism, interpretation and diplomacy. Unlike most academic disciplines, Phatai Shittu said the language provided ample opportunity for French students to generate income. “I recall some of us made some money last year at the Nigeria French Village through translation. We had the rare privilege of translating documents for a fee. Some people travel to Benin Republic for cross-border transaction; we make good money interpreting French. I think the opportunities are boundless, especially when you know your onions,” he said.

A number of students told CAMPUSLIFE that they had always believed that French graduates only end up in teaching a profession some of them dread. But in an interview with our correspondent, the head of UNIBEN’s French Department, Dr Austin Moye, said it is a grave error to believe that French graduates would be jobless after graduation.

He said: “It is sad that some persons ignorantly underestimate the capability of a French graduate. In reality, vast opportunities abound for graduates of this discipline. We have graduates of this department who have distinguished themselves in various sectors of the economy.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the department boasts of the highest number of seasoned French professors than any other institution in Nigeria. This feat probably explains why many of the students outshine their counterparts, especially during their one-year language immersion programme in Togo and Badagry.

For instance, a student of the department emerged the overall best in Francophone Literature in 2012 at the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry. In the same year, another student of the department won the poetry prize in Togo, defeating contenders from various African countries.

Dr Moye described the feat as a reflection of the excellent tutelage to which the students were exposed. He said: “You cannot divorce the quality of our professors from the excellence of our students. They are two sides of the same coin. The dynamism and proficiency of our lecturers affirm our prime place in the comity of French education in Nigeria.”

The immediate past president of the department, George Emorkidi, told CAMPUSLIFE that the warm relationship among students and lecturers should be praised. “I have observed over the years that in most departments, students practically walk in fear. But here, the bond is quite strong. The ease with which lecturers relate with the students is akin to that of a family. That, in my estimation, makes the department unique.”

In an attempt to key into the vision of the department’s leadership, the Foreign Languages Students’ Association (FOLSA), led by Bobbipetreus Nkejika, has instituted a weekly debate session for students aimed at developing their oral communication skills. A 200-Level student said: “So far, the debates have been intellectually stimulating. It prepares us to sharpen our communication skills and develop confidence in public speaking. The initiative has brought a lot of idea out of our minds.”